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Geosystems and the Geographical Environment

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Abstract

A vector model of the relationship between geosystems and the geographical environment is proposed. Based on Gauss’s principle of least constraint (deviation), a representation of a geosystem is formed as a set (layer) of changed states that differ minimally from the invariant characteristics of the state of the corresponding environment. The geographical environment as a diversity (manifold) of terrestrial environment has a relief expression in the form of an integrating and evaluation function of many variables. Geographical characteristics of geosystems consist of a constant environment-dependent vector component and a free vector of azonal factor variability, which expresses the measure of constraint (nondeterminism). Minimization of this vector relative to the elements of the environment’s diversity leads to differential equations of the vector geosystem field: a representation of geographical data and knowledge in the space of characteristics that locally has a universal symmetry, which allows us to compare geographical processes and phenomena on a single basis. The resulting relations are explained by the properties of the known geographical models and concepts that are in a dual relationship: objects and subjects of research, factors and conditions of influence, laws and regularities of interaction, and so on. External (exo-) and internal (endo-) environments are selected and taken into account when calculating the equations. The results are illustrated based on the example of preformation of spatial information obtained by the method of complex ordination, with verification of the hypothesis of environmental homogeneity and territorial integrity of dark coniferous taiga sites at different stages of endogenous dynamics of facies of a subhydromorphic factor series. It is concluded that the relationships of geosystems and their endo- and exo-environments should be taken into account when processing landscape research data, mathematical modeling, and synthetic mapping of territories.

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  1. Sochava Institute of Geography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 664033, Irkutsk, Russia

    A. K. Cherkashin

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  1. A. K. Cherkashin
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Correspondence to A. K. Cherkashin.

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Translated by S. Avodkova

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Cherkashin, A.K. Geosystems and the Geographical Environment. Geogr. Nat. Resour. 42, 1–9 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1875372821010066

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